Hezbollah leader announces group will not hand over its arms

(MENAFN) Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared on Friday that the group will not surrender its arms and is ready to fight if necessary, citing ongoing Israeli aggression and occupation, according to reports.

"We will not hand over our weapons while the aggression continues and the occupation remains," Qassem said.

The statement comes amid heightened political tensions after the Lebanese government recently moved to bring weapons under state control. Qassem argued that such actions "facilitate the killing of resistance fighters and their families" and accused authorities of advancing Israeli and American interests.

He criticized Lebanese officials for placing political survival above national defense, urging them to "remove Israel first" before discussing Hezbollah’s arms. Referencing a recent poll, Qassem noted that most Lebanese believe the army alone cannot fend off aggression and oppose disarming the resistance without a broader defense strategy, framing the group’s arsenal as vital to the country’s sovereignty.

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